Bottle containment cap

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to the containment of effervescence in carbonated beverages through the use of a containment cap designed to expel only carbonated liquid and contain the gas within the bottle. The present invention uses an aerosol valve assembly similar to those used to dispense whipped cream from cans.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0001] The following United States Patents are most closely related to the present invention: U.S. Patent Documents 4,515,019 4,723,670 4,763,802 5,031,785 5,207,339 5,294,010 5,322,094 6,113,070

[0002] It is well known that carbonated beverages lose their effervescence after the bottle is opened. There have been many attempts to reduce lose of gas by the use of various kinds of resealable bottle tops and the use of pumps to repressurize the bottle.

[0003] The disadvantage of the resealable cap systems is that the cap allows gas to escape each time the cap is opened and the bottle is depressurized. After several openings, the beverage loses carbonation.

[0004] The pumps systems also have disadvantages including those already mentioned for the resealable cap. Each time the bottle is opened, pressure is released. The pump attempts to repressurize the bottle, but is unable to replace the effervescence in the beverage. Depressurization releases effervescence that is not replaced by the pump. Additionally, repressurizing the bottle with the pump is time consuming and inconvenient.

[0005] The present invention does not release gas from the bottle since the cap is not removed. It uses a pressure release valve or an aerosol valve like those used to dispense whipped cream from cans to dispense the carbonated liquid and retain the gas.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to maintain the effervescence of bottled carbonated beverages.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to prevent the release of gas from bottled carbonated beverages.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to dispense only liquid from bottled carbonated beverages.

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to prevent gas from escaping from bottled carbonated beverages yet at the same time allows the liquid carbonated beverage to be dispensed.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to allow normal pouring of a liquid carbonated beverage by removing the containment cap in the present invention entirely from the bottle and purring the beverage in the normal manner.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of previous methods of maintaining the effervescence in liquid carbonated beverages.

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to maintain the effervescence of bottled carbonated beverages without any effort from the user.

[0013] It is an object of the present invention to maintain the effervescence of bottled carbonated beverages without removing the containment cap from the bottle.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the containment cap using an inner valve assembly and an outer valve assembly.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the containment cap using an aerosol valve assembly adapted to a bottle neck.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the containment cap using an aerosol valve assembly adapted to a bottle neck in a recessed position having a protective cap, tab and hinge.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the containment cap using angled spokes and a magnified cross sectional view of a ring.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view using angled spokes showing the inner valve assembly and outer valve assembly separately.

[0019]FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view detailed view of the angled spokes in the open and closed positions.

REFERENCE: NUMERALS IN DRAWING

[0020]  1 inner valve assembly 1a outer side 1a 1b a top side 1c inner side 1d bottom side  2 inner thread  3 outer thread  4 bottle neck 4  5 tubular valve assembly  6 threaded tubular body member  7 base end  8 top end  9 tapered head member 9a top tapered end 9b bottom tapered end 9c side end 10 tapered opening 11 outer valve assembly 11a outerwall 11b topwall 11c inner wall 11d outer wall thread 11e inner wall thread 12a inner stop 12b outer stop 13 round hole 14 indentation 15 ledge 16 step 17 notch 18 ring 19 perforation 20 protective cap 21 valve assembly 22 cap assembly 23 tab 24 hinge 25 snapping means 26 lock ring 27 angled spokes 28 safety seal 29 outer staggered threads 30 inner staggered threads 31 stop recess 32 spoke holes

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] The present invention uses an aerosol valve assembly similar to those used to dispense whipped cream from cans. One such aerosol valve assembly is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,070.

[0022] In a first embodiment, the containment cap in the present invention has an inner valve assembly 1 in FIG. 1. comprising an outer side 1 a, a top side 1 b, an inner side 1 c and a bottom side 1 d. The outer side comprises an inner thread 2 designed to screw on a bottle neck 4 and outer thread 3 designed to screw on an outer valve assembly 11. The inner side 1 c fits against the inside wall of the bottle neck.

[0023] The bottom side of the inner valve assembly comprises a tubular valve assembly 5. Details of the tubular valve assembly are not described since the art is already known. The tubular valve assembly has a threaded tubular body member 6, a base end 7, a top end 8, a tapered head member 9 and a tapered opening 10. The tapered head has a top tapered end 9 a, a bottom tapered end 9 b and a side end 9 c.

[0024] Further, the inner valve assembly comprises an inner stop 12 a that will engage an outer stop 12 b on the outer valve assembly when the outer valve assembly is unscrewed to a predetermined limit. Additional force will engage the stops and causing the inner valve assembly to release at the perforation 19 and unscrew from the bottle neck. This will allow removal of the entire containment cap from the bottle neck.

[0025] The outer valve assembly fits over the inner valve assembly. It comprises an outer wall 11 a, a top wall 11 b comprising a round hole 13 in the center and an inner wall 11 c. The round hole is tapered downward to a larger diameter and forms a seal with the top tapered end 9 a in the closed position. The outer wall has an outer wall thread 11 d that engages the outer thread 3 of the inner valve assembly in the closed position.

[0026] The inner wall 11 c comprises an inner wall thread 11 e that engages the threaded tubular body member 5. In the closed position, the inner wall thread forces the tubular valve assembly 5 to remain in the sealed position to prevent unintentional leakage of gas The upper end of the inner wall 11 c slides along the inner side 1 c of the inner wall assembly and has a step 16 to engage and seal the threaded tubular body member against bottom tapered end 9 b in the open position.

[0027] In the open position, the outer wall thread 11 d disengages the outer thread 3 as the outer valve assembly is unscrewed and moves upward. In the open position, only the threaded tubular body member 6 supports the outer valve assembly. There is enough freeway space between the inner valve assembly and the outer valve assembly to allow lateral movement of the outer valve assembly sufficient to force open the tubular valve assembly to expel the carbonated liquid when lateral pressure is applied to the outer wall 11 a.

[0028] The inner wall has an indentation 14 the at the lower end comprising a ledge 15 at the bottom of the indentation. A ring 18 fits loosely around the indentation and is allowed to move freely as the bottle is turned upside down to pour.

[0029] In the upright position of the bottle, the ring engages between the ledge 15 and the inner side 11 c forming a stop and prevents the tubular valve assembly from opening by preventing lateral movement of the outer valve assembly. The ring is designed to disengage the ledge in the pouring position and allow the tubular valve assembly to open by allowing lateral movement. The ring is larger than the freeway space between the inner valve assembly and the outer valve assembly to prevent the ring from becoming caught in the freeway space.

[0030] The lower end of the outer side 1 a is made in the conventional manner allowing the inner valve assembly to lock on the bottle. The containment cap in the present invention is removed by apply excessive force in the counter clockwise direction to separate the containment cap along a perforation 19 leaving a lock ring 26 behind on the bottle neck. Once removed, the containment cap is reusable. The outer valve assembly has a safety seal 28 connected to the inner valve assembly that will break loose on first opening of the containment cap.

[0031] The outer valve assembly and the inner valve assembly are designed to allow the outer valve assembly to fit in position to the inner valve assembly during the manufacturing process regardless of their tapered features.

[0032] In second more straight forward embodiment, a containment cap similar to an aerosol valve assembly used to dispense whipped cream from cans is adapted to the bottle neck, FIG. 2, comprising a protective cap 20, a valve assembly 21, a cap assembly 22, lock ring 26 and perforation 19.

[0033] In a third embodiment in FIG. 3, the containment cap comprises the cap assembly 22 that recesses the valve assembly 21 inside the bottle neck. The containment cap is opened by pulling on a tab 23 to release the protective cap 20. The protective cap is secured off-center on the cap assembly by a hinge 24. The hinge allows the protective cap to rotate upward and act as a lever. When pulled, the lower end of the protective cap engages laterally the upper end of the valve assembly to force it open to expel the carbonated liquid when the bottle is in the upside down pouring position. The protective cap can be resealed by pushing and snapping it back to its original closed position using a snapping means 25 for snapping the protective cap in the closed position.

[0034] In fourth embodiment, the containment cap in the present invention has an inner valve assembly 1 in FIG. 4. comprising an outer side 1 a and a top side 1 b designed to fit on a bottle neck. The outer side has outer staggered threads 29 designed to screw on the inner staggered threads 30 of an outer valve assembly 11.

[0035] The top side of the inner valve assembly comprises a valve assembly 21. The valve assembly has angled spokes 27 arranged in a circular pattern radiating from the center of the inner valve assembly, safety seal 28, inner staggered threads 29, stop recess 31, perforation 19 and lock ring 26. The safety seal is broken the first time the outer valve assembly is opened.

[0036] The outer valve assembly 11 fits over the inner valve assembly. It comprises an outer wall 11 a having inner staggered threads 30, a top wall 11 b having spoke holes 32 arranged in a circular pattern radiating from the center to fit the angled spokes of the inner valve assembly and a outer stop 12 b. The outer staggered threads engage the inner staggered threads in the closed position to seal the containment cap. Optionally, the fourth embodiment comprises a ring 18 similar to the ring described in the first embodiment above.

[0037] The angled spokes in FIG. 5 have a distal slope 27 a, a flat top 27 b and a vertical end 27 c to fit into the corresponding shape of the spoke holes in the closed position to seal the containment cap. In the open position, the outer valve assembly is rotated clockwise forcing it to slide up the distal slope and come to a rest on the flat top in a predetermined position when the outer stop 12 b is engaged in the stop recess and outer staggered threads 29. At this point, downward vertical pressure or lateral pressure on the outer valve assembly will force the valve assembly open causing the carbonated liquid to be expelled.

[0038] In the open position, the inner staggered threads and the outer staggered threads disengage to allow free vertical movement of the outer valve assembly. The outer stop 12 b of the outer valve assembly engages the stop recess 31 and outer staggered threads 29 of the inner valve assembly when the outer valve assembly is unscrewed to a predetermined limit. Additional force will cause the inner valve assembly to release at the perforation 19 and unscrew from the bottle neck. This will allow removal of the entire containment cap from the bottle neck.

[0039] A closer view of the containment cap in the open position is shown in FIG. 6a and a view of the closed position is shown in FIG. 6b.

[0040] In order to allow free vertical movement of the outer valve assembly in the open position, the inner valve assembly has the stop recess 31 which will allow enough freeway space between the inner valve assembly and the outer valve assembly to allow lateral movement of the outer valve assembly sufficient to force open the valve assembly to expel the carbonated liquid when downward vertical pressure or lateral pressure is applied to the outer valve assembly.

[0041] The outer valve assembly has a safety seal 28 connected to the inner valve assembly that will break loose on first opening of the containment cap. The lower end of the inner valve assembly is made in the conventional manner allowing the inner valve assembly to lock on the bottle. The containment cap in the present invention is removed by apply excessive force in the counter clockwise direction to separate the containment cap along a perforation 19 leaving a lock ring 26 behind on the bottle neck. Once removed, the containment cap is reusable. The outer valve assembly and the inner valve assembly are designed to allow the outer valve assembly to fit in position to the inner valve assembly during the manufacturing.

[0042] The invention is not in any way strictly limited to the examples of construction described previously, but encompasses numerous embodiments, modifications and improvements. 

I claim:
 1. A containment cap for use on a soda bottle to prevent the release of gas from the bottle.
 2. A containment cap according to claim 1 whereby said containment cap is reusable.
 3. A containment cap according to claim 1 whereby said containment cap comprises an aerosol valve assembly adapted to fit a bottle neck.
 4. An containment cap according to claim 3 comprising: a protective cap, a valve assembly and a cap assembly.
 5. An containment cap according to claim 1 comprising; a protective cap, a valve assembly, a cap assembly, a tab and a hinge.
 6. An containment cap according to claim 5 comprising a snapping means for snapping the protective cap in the closed position
 7. An containment cap according to claim 5 whereby: the containment cap is opened by pulling on the tab to release the protective cap; the protective cap is secured off center on the cap assembly by a hinge; the hinge allows the protective cap to rotate upward and act as a lever; when pulled, the lower end of the protective cap engages the upper end of the valve assembly to force it open to expel carbonated liquid when the bottle is in the upside down position; the protective cap is resealed by pushing it back to its original closed position using a snapping means for snapping the protective cap in the closed position.
 8. An containment cap according to claim 1 comprising: an inner valve assembly further comprising an outer side having an outer thread and an inner thread, a top side, an inner side, and a bottom side; said inner valve assembly comprising a tubular valve assembly having a threaded tubular body member, a base end, a top end and a tapered head; said tapered head having a top tapered end, a bottom tapered end, a side end and a tapered opening; an outer valve assembly having an outer wall, a top wall and an inner wall; said top wall having a round hole; said outer wall having an outer wall thread, an inner wall thread, a stop, an indentation, a ledge, a step, and a gasket; and a ring.
 9. A containment cap according to claim 8 comprising a perforation and a lock ring.
 10. An containment cap according to claim 9 whereby: the inner thread is designed to screw on a bottle neck; the outer thread is designed to receive the outer valve assembly; the bottom side of the inner valve assembly comprises the tubular valve assembly; the tubular valve assembly has the threaded tubular body member, the base end, the top end, the tapered head member and the tapered opening 10; the tapered head has the top tapered end, the bottom tapered end and the side end. the inner thread fits on the bottle neck; the inner side fits against and fits against the inside wall of the bottle neck, the inner valve assembly has a stop that will engage when the outer valve assembly is unscrewed to a predetermined limit and further force will engage the stop and causing the inner valve assembly to release at the perforation leaving the lock ring behind on the bottle neck and unscrew from the bottle neck to allow removal of the entire containment cap from the bottle neck; the outer valve assembly having the outer wall, a top wall, the round hole in the center and the inner wall fits over the inner valve assembly, the round hole is tapered downward to a larger diameter and forms a seal with the top tapered end in the closed position; the outer wall has an outer wall thread that engages the outer thread of the inner valve assembly in the closed position; the inner wall has an inner wall thread that engages the threaded tubular body member; the inner wall thread, in the closed position, forces the tubular valve assembly to remain in the sealed position to prevent unintentional leakage of gas; the upper end of the inner wall slides along the inner side of the inner wall assembly and has the step comprising the gasket above the inner wall thread at bottom end to engage and seal the threaded tubular body member against bottom tapered end in the open position; the outer wall thread 11 d disengages the outer thread In the open position supported by the threaded tubular body member leaving enough freeway space between the inner valve assembly and the outer valve assembly to allow lateral movement of the outer valve assembly sufficient to force open the tubular valve assembly to expel the carbonated liquid when lateral pressure is applied to the outer wall;. the inner wall has indentation the at the lower end comprising the ledge at the bottom of the indentation; the ring fits loosely around the indentation and is allowed to move freely as the bottle is turned upside down to pour; the ring is designed to disengage the tubular valve assembly in the pouring position and allow the tubular valve assembly to open by allowing lateral movement of the tubular valve assembly, and in the upright position of the bottle, the ring engages between the ledge and the inner side forming a stop and prevents the tubular valve assembly from opening by preventing lateral movement; the lower end of the outer side is made in the conventional manner allowing the inner valve assembly to lock on the bottle and is removed by apply excessive force in the counter clockwise direction to separate the containment cap along the perforation; the containment cap is reusable; the outer valve assembly and the inner valve assembly is designed to allow the outer valve assembly to fit in position to the inner valve assembly during the manufacturing process regardless of their tapered features.
 11. An containment cap according to claim 1 comprising: an inner valve assembly having an outer side and a top side; said outer side has outer staggered threads; said top side has a valve assembly comprising angled spokes, a safety seal, a stop recess, perforation and lock ring; an outer valve assembly having an outer wall; said outer wall having inner staggered threads, a top wall having spoke holes and an outer stop; said angled spokes having a distal slope, a flat top and a vertical end.
 12. An containment cap according to claim 11 whereby: said inner valve assembly is designed to fit on a bottle neck; said outer staggered threads are designed to screw on said inner staggered threads; said angled spokes are arranged in a circular pattern radiating from the center of the inner valve assembly; said outer valve assembly fits over said inner valve assembly; said spoke holes are arranged in a circular pattern radiating from the center to fit the angled spokes of the inner valve assembly; said outer staggered threads engage said inner staggered threads in the closed position to seal the containment cap; said angled spokes fit into the corresponding shape of said spoke holes in the closed position to seal the containment cap; in the predetermined open position, said outer valve assembly is rotated clockwise forcing it to slide up said distal slope and come to a rest on said flat top in a predetermined position to engage said outer stop in said stop recess and said outer staggered threads; at this point, downward vertical pressure or lateral pressure on said outer valve assembly will force the valve assembly open causing the carbonated liquid to be expelled; in the open position, the inner staggered threads and the outer staggered threads disengage to allow free vertical movement of the outer valve assembly; additional counter clockwise force will cause the inner valve assembly to release at said perforation and unscrew from the bottle neck to allow removal of the entire containment cap from the bottle neck; in order to allow free vertical movement of said outer valve assembly in the open position, said inner valve assembly has said stop recess which will allow enough freeway space between said inner valve assembly and said outer valve assembly to allow lateral movement of said outer valve assembly sufficient to force open said valve assembly to expel the carbonated liquid when downward vertical pressure or lateral pressure is applied to said outer valve assembly; said safety seal 28 connected to the inner valve assembly will break loose on first opening of the containment cap; said containment cap is removed by apply excessive force in the counter clockwise direction to separate along said perforation leaving said lock ring 26 behind on the bottle neck; once removed, said containment cap is reusable
 13. A containment cap for use on a soda bottle to prevent the release of gas from the bottle comprising: an inner valve assembly further comprising an outer side having an outer thread and an inner thread, a top side, an inner side, and a bottom side; said inner valve assembly comprising a tubular valve assembly having a threaded tubular body member, a base end, a top end and a tapered head; said tapered head having a top tapered end, a bottom tapered end, a side end and a tapered opening; an outer valve assembly having an outer wall, a top wall and an inner wall; said top wall having a round hole; said outer wall having an outer wall thread, an inner wall thread, a stop, an indentation, a ledge, a step, and a gasket; and a ring; a perforation and a lock ring; whereby the inner thread is designed to screw on a bottle neck; the outer thread is designed to receive the outer valve assembly; the bottom side of the inner valve assembly comprises the tubular valve assembly; the tubular valve assembly has the threaded tubular body member, the base end, the top end, the tapered head member and the tapered opening 10; the tapered head has the top tapered end, the bottom tapered end and the side end. the inner thread fits on the bottle neck; the inner side fits against and fits against the inside wall of the bottle neck; the inner valve assembly has a stop that will engage when the outer valve assembly is unscrewed to a predetermined limit and further force will engage the stop and causing the inner valve assembly to release at the perforation leaving the lock ring behind on the bottle neck and unscrew from the bottle neck to allow removal of the entire containment cap from the bottle neck; the outer valve assembly having the outer wall, a top wall, the round hole in the center and the inner wall fits over the inner valve assembly; the round hole is tapered downward to a larger diameter and forms a seal with the top tapered end in the closed position; the outer wall has an outer wall thread that engages the outer thread of the inner valve assembly in the closed position; the inner wall has an inner wall thread that engages the threaded tubular body member; the inner wall thread, in the closed position, forces the tubular valve assembly to remain in the sealed position to prevent unintentional leakage of gas; the upper end of the inner wall slides along the inner side of the inner wall assembly and has the step comprising the gasket above the inner wall thread at bottom end to engage and seal the threaded tubular body member against bottom tapered end in the open position; the outer wall thread 11 d disengages the outer thread In the open position supported by the threaded tubular body member leaving enough freeway space between the inner valve assembly and the outer valve assembly to allow lateral movement of the outer valve assembly sufficient to force open the tubular valve assembly to expel the carbonated liquid when lateral pressure is applied to the outer wall; the inner wall has indentation the at the lower end comprising the ledge at the bottom of the indentation; the ring fits loosely around the indentation and is allowed to move freely as the bottle is turned upside down to pour; the ring is designed to disengage the tubular valve assembly in the pouring position and allow the tubular valve assembly to open by allowing lateral movement of the tubular valve assembly, and in the upright position of the bottle, the ring engages between the ledge and the inner side forming a stop and prevents the tubular valve assembly from opening by preventing lateral movement; the lower end of the outer side is made in the conventional manner allowing the inner valve assembly to lock on the bottle and is removed by apply excessive force in the counter clockwise direction to separate the containment cap along the perforation; the containment cap is reusable; the outer valve assembly and the inner valve assembly is designed to allow the outer valve assembly to fit in position to the inner valve assembly during the manufacturing process regardless of their tapered features.
 14. A containment cap according to claim 14 whereby said containment cap is reusable.
 15. A containment cap according to claim 14 whereby said containment cap comprises an aerosol valve assembly adapted to fit a bottle neck.
 16. A containment cap for use on a soda bottle to prevent the release of gas from the bottle comprising: an inner valve assembly having an outer side and a top side; said outer side has outer staggered threads; said top side has a valve assembly comprising angled spokes, a safety seal, a stop recess, perforation and lock ring; an outer valve assembly having an outer wall; said outer wall having inner staggered threads, a top wall having spoke holes and an outer stop; said angled spokes having a distal slope, a flat top and a vertical end; whereby said inner valve assembly is designed to fit on a bottle neck; said outer staggered threads are designed to screw on said inner staggered threads; said angled spokes are arranged in a circular pattern radiating from the center of the inner valve assembly; said outer valve assembly fits over said inner valve assembly; said spoke holes are arranged in a circular pattern radiating from the center to fit the angled spokes of the inner valve assembly; said outer staggered threads engage said inner staggered threads in the closed position to seal the containment cap; said angled spokes fit into the corresponding shape of said spoke holes in the closed position to seal the containment cap; in the predetermined open position, said outer valve assembly is rotated clockwise forcing it to slide up said distal slope and come to a rest on said flat top in a predetermined position to engage said outer stop in said stop recess and said outer staggered threads; at this point, downward vertical pressure or lateral pressure on said outer valve assembly will force the valve assembly open causing the carbonated liquid to be expelled; in the open position, the inner staggered threads and the outer staggered threads disengage to allow free vertical movement of the outer valve assembly; additional counter clockwise force will cause the inner valve assembly to release at said perforation and unscrew from the bottle neck to allow removal of the entire containment cap from the bottle neck; in order to allow free vertical movement of said outer valve assembly in the open position, said inner valve assembly has said stop recess which will allow enough freeway space between said inner valve assembly and said outer valve assembly to allow lateral movement of said outer valve assembly sufficient to force open said valve assembly to expel the carbonated liquid when downward vertical pressure or lateral pressure is applied to said outer valve assembly; said safety seal 28 connected to the inner valve assembly will break loose on first opening of the containment cap; said containment cap is removed by apply excessive force in the counter clockwise direction to separate along said perforation leaving said lock ring 26 behind on the bottle neck; once removed, said containment cap is reusable
 17. A containment cap according to claim 14 whereby said containment cap is reusable.
 18. A containment cap according to claim 14 whereby said containment cap comprises an aerosol valve assembly adapted to fit a bottle neck.
 19. A containment cap according to claim 14 comprising a ring, a safety seal, a perforation and safety seal.
 20. A containment cap according to claim 1 having an aerosol valve assembly adapted to fit a bottle neck. 